Sinker operating means and method for circular knitting machines



March 7, 1967 W. H. IMBQDEN 3,307,377

SINKER OPERATING MEANS AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1964 3 Sheets-SheecI l il j l. l| ATTORNEY.

March 7, 1967 A w. H. IMBODEN 3,307,377

' SINKER OPERATING MEANS AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR f KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1964 3 Shfenats-Sheefl 2 INVENTOR lfd/er H /mbooen ATTORNEY.

March 7,1967 v WQH'IMBODEN 3,307,377

Filed June 29, 1964 SINKER OPERATING MEANS AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNI'ITING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 TILE- E- l INVEN TOR. 0a/er H /mooen ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,307,377 SINKER OPERATING MEANS AND METHOD FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES Walter H. Imboden, 2704 Avon Ave., Reading, Pa. 19608 Filed June 29, 1964, Ser. No. 378,627 12 Claims. (Cl. 66-108) This invention relates to circular knitting machines and more particularly to an improved means for and method of operating such machines to produce design stitch patterns in knitted fabrics such as ladies hosiery and the like.

Commonly in forming Iplain stitch fabric such .as ladies hosiery on circular knitting machines having a plurality of knitting stations, the needles and sinkers are operated in the same manner at each station to simultaneously form complete courses of stitches of the same length during each rotation of the needle cylinder. In certain instances the sinkers are of the type having a usual stitch drawing platform in front of the neb and a surface in back of the neb which is the same height as the platform and the sinkers may be operated in the same manner at the knitting stations so that the stitches are formed over either the platforms or the surfaces in back of the nebs. Where the fabric is also to be provided with a pattern of micromesh or tuck stitches having run-resisting characteristics, a course of stitches of normal length is knit at one station and a course of stitches of longer length is knit at the other stations, with selected stitches of the shorter rst course being held and tucked with stitches of the longer second course to form the tuck stitch pattern. In one method of forming the required different length stitch courses at the two stati-ons, the machine is provided with sinkers having a stitch drawing platform of normal height in front of the neb and a surface in back of the neb which is higher than the platform. The sinkers are then operated Vat one station so that the stitches of the shorter course are formed over the platforms of the sinkers and are operated at the other station so that the stitches of the longer course are Iformed over the high surfaces in back of the nebs of the sinkers. Hence, While the use of the first type of sinkers mentioned above permitted the formation of complete courses of stitches of the same length at the knitting station irrespective of whether the stitches were drawn over the platforms or behind the nebs and the use of the other type of sinkers permitted the Iformation of stitches of complete circular courses of stitches of one length at one station and complete circular courses of stitches of a different length at the other station, as required in the run-resistant tuck stitch pattern, neither type alone enabled the machine to form a fabric having partial courses of plain' stitches of normal length and partial courses of the run-resistant pattern with the normal and long length stitches required therein.

An object of the invention is to provide means in a circular knitting machine for knitting pairs of courses of a tubular fabric said means including a circle of needles, sinkers cooperating with the needles, means for operating the needles and sinkers to form stitches of one length in one of the courses of each pai-r, and means for operating the needles and sinkers to `form stitches of the same length in a portion of the other course of each pair and to f-orm stitches of a different length in another portion of said other course of each pair.

A further object is the provision of means in a circular knitting machine for knittin-g pairs of courses of a tubular fabric with one of the courses of each pair having stitches of one length land the other course of each pair having a first portion in which the stitches are the-same length as v 3,307,377 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 associated with a first group of the needles having stitch drawing surfaces at one level thereon, a second group of sinkers associated with a second group of the needles having a stitch drawing surface at the same level as the stitch drawing surfaces on the first group of sinkers and a stitch drawing surface at a different level, means for operating the needle and sinkers to draw stitches over the surfaces at the one level on the sinkers of both groups in one of the courses of each pair and means lfor operating the needles and sinkers to draw stitches over the surfaces at the one level on the sinkers of the first group and over the surfaces at the different level on the sinkers of the second group in the other course of each pair of courses.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method o f operating a -circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations to simultaneously form pairs of courses at an adjacent pair of the knitting stations and wherein the stitches of the courses formed Vat one of the stations and the stitches in portions of the courses formed at the other of the stations are of one length and the stitches -in other portions of the courses formed at the other station are of a different length.

Another object is to provide a method of operating a circular knitting machine having a circle of needles and sinkers and means for operating the needles and sinkers to simultaneously knit courses of the fabric at a pair of knitting stations -of the machine wherein the needles and sinkers lare operated in one manner at one of the stations to form stitches of one length in a course knit thereat and wherein the needles and sinkers are -operated in a different manner at the other station to `form a course of stitches thereat in which the stitches in a portion thereof are of the same length as the stitches in the course knit at the one station and in which the stitches in another portion thereof are of a different length.

With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrat-ive embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and cooperation of parts as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a developed view of the needle operating cams and jack selecting means of a multistation circular knitting machine as viewed when looking outwardly from the interior of the needle cylinder of the machine;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the sinker operating cams of the mach-ine;

FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are views on an enlarged scale illustrating the relative positions of the needles and sinkers at different stages during the formation of the fabric stitches on the machine;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of a stocking knitted on the machine;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view diagrammatically illustrating the length of the stitches as they are initially drawn in a course formed at one knitting station of the machine;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged view diagrammatically illustrating the length of the stitches as initially drawn in a course formed `at the other station of the machine; and

FIG. 11 is `an enlarged view diagrammatically illustrating a portion of the stocking fabric of FIG. 8 combining the courses of FIGS. 9 and 10 and with a pattern of design stitches in -a portion of the courses.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings there is schematically shown a common type circular knitting machine having a circle of latch needles 10, which are mounted in a slotted needle cylinder, a portion of which is shown -at 14 (FIG. 1), adapted for both rotary and reciprocatory operation, and main and auxiliary knitting stations, indicated generally at 11 and 12, respectively.

Station 11 is provided with yarn fingers, one of which is shown at 15, for feeding yarn to the needles and cams for operating on butts 16 of the needles including a forward stitch cam 17 acting on the needles in rotary and forward movements of reciprocation of the needles, indicated by the arrows in FIGS. 1 and 2, a reverse stitch cam 20 acting in reverse movements of reciprocation of `of the needles, a center cam 21, a cam 22 associated with the forward stitch cam for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the forward direction, and a cam 25 associated with the reverse stitch cam for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the reverse direction. Also acting on the butts of the needles at station 11 is a center or leveling cam 26 and a guard cam indicated at 27. Station 12 is provided with yarn fingers, one of which is shown at 30, for feeding yarn to the needles and cams for operating on the butts of the needles only during rotary movements thereof including a forward stitch cam 31, an upper center cam 32, a cam for raising the needles following stitch drawing movements in the forward direction and leveling cam 36.

In certain instances, to form plain stitch fabric, the machine is provided with sinkers 37 (FIGS. 6 and 7) each of which has a horizontal surface -or platform 40 over which the yarn is normally drawn by the needles 10, `a neb 41 overlying the surface 40 and a horizontal ledge 42 in back of the neb which is at the same level as the platform 40 and a butt 45 (FIG. 6). As is cornrnon the sinkers 37 are mounted in slots in a bed (not shown) secured to the needle cylinder, for radial movement in the spaces between the needles, and the sinkers are operated through their radial movements in timed relation to the needles by a cam track 46, formed in a cam ring 47 (FIG. 3), which acts on the butts 45 of the sinkers and a usual garter spring indicated at 50, in a manner hereinafter set forth.

As is conventi-onal the needle operating cams associated with stations 11 and 12 are mounted in fixed vertical position with the lowermost points of the stitch cams 17 and 20 at station 11 and the stitch cam 31 of station 12 at the same level to move the needles to the same stitch drawing depth at both stations. Also the needle cylinder and sinker bed are adapted to be m-oved vertically relative to the needle operating cams to vary the length of the stitches in the courses formed at the st-ations in the usual manner.

During the simultaneous formation of plain stitch courses at stations 11 and 12 with the needles moving in the rotary -or forward direction, the needles approach station 11 along a path 51, commonly referred to as the tucking path or level, and are first raised over the upper curved surface of the reverse stitch cam 2t) to a clearing level 52 to clear the previously formed stitches on the needles below the latches thereof. During this raising movement of the needles, the sinkers 37 are held in an inner position to hold and tension the previously formed stitches by the garter spring 50. As the needles continue along the level 52, the sinkers are retracted by a cam surface 55 of the cam track 46 to the position of FIG. 7 and the needles are then lowered by the center cam 21 to take yarn fed by the finger 15 at station 11. As the needles continue their movement in the forward direction, they are lowered by the stitch cam 17 to draw new stitches over the platforms 40 of the retracted sinkers and to knock over the previously formed stitches on the needles and the sinkers are then moved inwardly by a cam surface 56 of the cam track 46 to place the nebs 41 thereof over the new stitches. After passing the lowest point of the stitch cam 17 the needles rise to tucking level over the cam 22 and at this time the garter spring again acts to hold the sinkers in their inner position to maintain tension on the new stitches.

As the needles continue in the forward direction they are raised to a clearing level 57, to clear the stitches formed at station 11 thereon, by means and in the manner hereinafter set yforth and the sinkers are retracted to the position of FIG. 7 by a cam 60. The cam 60 is mounted for radial movement in the cam ring from its full line active position shown in FIG. 3, to an inactive position shown in dotted outline for purposes hereinafter set forth. The needles are then lowered by the center cam 32 to take yarn of the finger 30 at station 12 and then lowered by the stitch cam 31 to draw new stitches over the platforms 40 of the sinkers and to knock over the stitches on the needles formed at station 11 and the sinkers are moved inwardly by a cam surface 61`of the cam track 46 to place the nebs41 thereof over the new stitches formed at station 12. vAfter passing the stitch cam 31 the needles are raisedvto the tuck level 51 by the cam 35 and as the needles again approach station 11 they are again raised by the cam 20 t-o clearing level as above set forth.

This means for raising the needles to latchk clearing level 57 at station 12 includes pattern jacks 62 which are conventionally of the rocking type (FIG. 1) andfwhich act through intermediate jacks 65, there being a pattern jack and an intermediate jack in the cylinder for each of the needles 10. Each of the jacks 62 is provided with a lower lug 66 adapted for engagement with a raising cam 67 when the lower ends of these jacks are rocked outwardly through engagement of a pressercam 70 with upper portions 71 of the jacks. Conventionally the presser cam 70 is mounted for movement from inactive position to an active position to engage the upper portions of the jacks 62 by pattern controlled means not shown herein and forming no part of the instant invention. Following a raising movement of the jacks 62, jacks 65 and needles 10 by the cam 67, the jacks are again returned to their lowermost position by a cam surface 72 which acts on butt portions 75 on the intermediate jacks 65 and the needles are acted on by the cams 32, 31 and 35 as above set forth.

The pattern jacks 62 are also adapted to be controlled so that only selected ones of the jacks are raised by the cam 67 to clear the-needles 10 associated therewith while other needles remain at the level 51 to which they were raised by cam 22 for purposes of forming design stitch formations as hereinafter set forth. For so selectin-g the jacks 62 they are provided with usual breakable pattern butts 76 adapted to be engaged by selector levers 77 to again move the lugs 66 on the jacks out of the path of cam 67 after the jacks have been rocked outwardly by the presser cam 70. Hence, the jacks on which the butts 76 are unbroken are acted on by the selector levers while the jacks having butts removed are raised to move their associated needles to clearing level as hereinbefore set forth. The selector levers are moved between inactive positions and active positions to act on the pattern butts 76 of the jacks 62 by conventional pattern means not shown herein.

The needles 10 may also be selectively controlled at station 11 through the jacks 62 and`65 in the same manner as at station 12 for'the purpose of forming. design stitch formations'in the courses formed at station 11. Themeans for this purpose includes a raising cam 80, similar to cam 67, for raising the jacks 62, a presser cam 81 acting on the upper portion 71 of the jacks'62, a cam surface 82 acting on the butts'75 of the intermediate jacks 65 for lowering these jacksand the jacks 62 raised by the raising cam 80, and selector levers 85 acting on the pattern butts 76 on the jacksv62 in the same manner and for the same purpose as selector levers 77, as above set forth.

In FIG. 8 'of the drawings there is shown a ladies seamless stocking having a usual' turned welt 91, a leg portion 92, a foot portion -and heel and toe portions 96 and 97, respectively. The welt 91, leg and foot portions 92 and 95 are knit multifeed throughout of plain courses at stations 11 and 12 during rotary operation of the machine in the manner above set forth and the heel and toe are reciprocatively knit at station 11 in a conventional manner.

Where, as opposed to the .plain knit leg and foot construction of FIG. 8, it is desired to provide the rotary knit portions of the stocking with a design stitch formation having run-resist characteristics, the stitches of the courses formed at the two stations are preferably of different lengths. In order to form the stitches in this manner, the machine herein described is provided with sinkers 100 (FIGS. 4 and 5) having a platform 101 which is the same height as the platform 40 of sinker 37, a neb 102 overlying the platforrma horizontal ledge 105 in back of the neb which is slightly higher than the platform and a butt 106. In one method Vof producing the desired results, the needles and sinkers 100 are `operated at station 11 during successive rotations of the cylinder to form courses of stitches of normal length, hereinafter referred to as short courses, in the same manner as hereinbefore set forth, e.g. the sinkers 100 are retracted to the position of FIG. 5 by the cam surface 55 so that the stitches are drawn over the platforms 101 of the sinkers. Following the movement of the needles 10 to their lowest stitch drawing position by cam 17, the sinkers are moved inwardly by the cam surface 56 to place the nebs 102 thereof over the new stitches and as the needles rise first to tuck level and then to clearing level as they approach station 12, the -garter spring 50 acts to hold and tension the new stitches -as above set forth.

At station 12, the cam 60 is moved t-o its dot-and-dash -line position of FIG. 3 so that the sinkers remain in their inner positions and the stitches are drawn over the higher ledges 105 in back of the nebs 102 of the sinkers to form the long courses. Also the jack selecting means associated with station 12 is conditioned t-o cause certain of the needles to follow the stitch clearing path while the other needles remain at the tuck level during the successive rotations of the cylinder to form a design of tuck stitches. As an example to form a 1 x l design of tuck stitches during one rotation of the cylinder, alternate needles are raised to the stitch clearing path while the intervening needles remain at tuck level to form the tuck stitches in one course and during the next rotation of the cylinder the intervening needles are raised to the stitch clearing path while the alternate needles remain at the tuck level to for-m the tuck stitches in the next course. During each rotation of the cylinder following the formation of a short course at station 11, as the needles approach -station 12, the alternate (or intervening) needles forming the plain stitches are raised to clear the stitches of the short course thereon while the intervening (or allternate) needles remain at the tuck level to hold the stitches of the short course thereon. The cleared needles are then lowered by the center cam 32 at station 12 and all of the needles take the yarn of finger 30 and are lowered by the stitch cam 31 to form the stitches of the long course over the ledges 105 of the sinkers, the cleared needles drawing stitches 4of the long course through stitches of the short course and the other needles having stitches of both the long and short courses thereon.

It is believed to be obvious from the foregoing that when the m-achine herein described is provided with sinkers 37 complete circular courses of plain stitches of the same Ilength are formed at stations 11 and 12 and when the machine is provided with sinkers 100', by manipulating the cam 60 at station 12, complete circular courses of stitches of one length may be formed at station 11 and complete circular courses -of stitches of a different length may be formed at station 12.

In accordance with the instant invention the machine herein described is also adaptable to form complete circular courses of stitches of the same length at stations 11 and 12 in portions of the stocking 90 and in other portions of the stocking to form complete courses of stitches of one length at station 11 and complete circular courses at station 12 in which the stitches in certain portions are of the same length as the stitches in the courses for-med at station 11 and the stitches in other portions are of a different length. As an example the stitches of the courses simultaneously knit during each rotation of the machine at stations 11 'and 12 are of the same length in the welt 91 and leg portion 92 of stocking 90. In the f-oot 95 of the stocking the stitches of the course knit at station 11 in an upper or instep portion 110 and a sole .portion 111 are of the same length. In the courses knit at station 12, the stitches in the instep portion 110 are the sarne length as in the courses knit at station 11 while the stitches in the sole Portion 111 are of a different length. Also the course portions in the sole 111 knit at stations 11 and 12 may be provided with a l X 1 pattern of tuck stitches in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

For this purpose the machine is provided with sinkers 37 cooperating with the needles 10 in a part of the needle circle indicated at 115 for knitting the instep portion 110 of the foot an with sinkers cooperating with the needles in the other part of the needle circle indicated at 116 (FIG. 2) for knitting the sole portion 111. Durin-g the simultaneous formation of the plain stitch courses in the welt and Ileg of the stocking the sinkers 37 and 100 are retracted by the calm surface 55 at station 11 and by the cam 60 at'station 12, cam 60 being in its full line active position at this time, in the manner above set forth, so that the needles throughout the needle circle draw stitches of the same length over the platforms 40 of the sinkers 37 and the platforms 101 of the sinkers 110 at both stations 11 and 12.

To form the courses of the foot 95, the cam 60 at st-ation 12 is moved to its dot-and-dash line position of FIG. 3 and the jack selecting means at station 12 is conditioned to cause alternate needles in the part 116 of the needle circle to follow -a stitch clearing path while the other or intervening needles in part 116 of the needle circle remain at the tuck level to form tuck stitches in the manner previously described and to cause all of the needles in the part 115 of the needle circle to follow the stitch clearing path to form plain stitches. As the needles approach station 11 to 4form a course 120 at this station the sinkers 37 and 100 are retracted by the cam surface 55 and the needles in both parts 115 and 116 of the needle circle are then lowered to form the yarn of finger 15 into stitches of the same length over the platforms of the sinkers in both portions 110 and 111 of course 120 (FIG. 9) and the sinkers are then moved inwardly by the cam surface 56 as the needles are raised to the tuck level in the manner previously described. As the needles pass through station 12 to form a course 121 at this station, the sinkers 37 and 100 remain in their inner position and all of the needles in the part 11S of the needle circle are raised to clearing level and then after taking yarn of finger 30 at station 12 are lowered to form short stitches in the portion 110 of course 121 (FIG. l0) over the surfaces 42 in back of the nebs 41 of the sinkers associated with these needles which are of the same length as those in the course 120 formed at station 11. As the needles of part 116 of the needle circle pass through station 12 the alternate needles selected to clear the previously for-med stitches thereon are raised to clearing level while the other needles selected to form tuck stitches remain at the tucking level and all of the needles of part 116 of the needle circle, after taking yarn of finger 30, are lowered to draw long stitches over the higher ledge in back of the nebs 102 of the sinkers 100 in the portion 111 of course 121. Following stitch drawing at station 12 all of the needles are again raised to the tucking level by the cam 35 with all the needles in part 115 of the needle circle forming portion of course 121 having short stitches thereon and the needles in part 116 of the needle circle forming portion 111 of course 121 having either a long stitch or long stitches tucked With a stitch of course 121 thereon as indicated in FIG. 11. All of the needles are raised to yclearing level as they `approach station 11 and the sinkers are retracted by the cam surface 55 of the cam track 46 to withdraw the nebs 41 yof the sinkers 37 through the short stitches on the needles of group 115 and the nebs 102 of sinkers 100 through the long stitches on the needles of grou-p 116.

From the foregoing it will 'be apparent that by arranging and operating the sinkers 37 and 100 in the manner above set forth, the machine is adapted to simultaneously knit pairs of courses with one of the courses having all short or normal length stitches and the other course having short'or normal length stitches in a portion there-of and having different or long stitches in another portion thereof. Furthermore, while the sinkers 37 are shown in association with a group of needles in the needle cylinder for knitting the instep portions of the courses and the sinkers 100 are shown in association with a group of needles in the cylinder for knitting the sole portion of the courses of a stocking fabric, this arrangement of the needles and sinkers is for illustrative purposes only and may be changed to produce the same results in other portions of the stocking fabric. Also, while the invention has been described herein in connection with a machine having t-wo knitting stations, the number of knitting stations is immaterial as long 4as the needles and sinkers are arranged t-o operate in one manner to form one course of a pair of courses and to operate in a different manner to form the other course of the pair 4of courses.

Ofl course the improvements specifically shown and described by which the above results are obtained may be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

1, A circular knitting machine for knitting pairs of courses of a tubular fabric, said machine having (a) a rotatable cylinder,

(b) kneedles in said cylinder,

(c) means for operating said needles through stitch drawing movements,

(d) means for feeding yarn to said needles,

(e) a first group of sinkers cooperating with a first group of needles in said cylinder to draw stitches,

(f) a second group of sinkers cooperating with a second group of needles in said cylinder to draw stitches,

(g) each of said sinkers of said first group having a neb and stitch drawing surfaces at one level in front and back of said neb, and

(h) each of said sinkers of said second group having a neb, a stitch drawing surface in front of said neb at the same level as said `stitch drawing surfaces at said one level on said sinkers of said first group, and a stitch drawing surface in back of said neb at a different level than said stitch drawing surface in front of said neb,

(i) first cam means for moving said sinkers of said first and second groups to a first position so that the first and second groups of needles draw stitches over the surfaces at said one level in front of the nebs of said sinkers during knitting of one course of said pair of courses, and

(j) second cam means for moving said sinkers of said first and second groups to a second position so that the needles of said first group draw stitches over the stitch drawing surfaces in back of the nebs on said sinkers of said first group and the needles of the second group dr-aw stitches over the surfaces at said different level in back of the nebs on said sinkers of said second group during knitting of the other course of said pair of courses.

2. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations,

(a) a rotatable cylinder,

(b) needles in said cylinder,

(c) means for operating said needles through stitch drawing movements at each of said stations,

(d) means for feeding yarn to said needles at each of said stations,

(e) a first group of sinkers cooperating with a first group of needles in said cylinder,

(f) a second group of sinkers cooperating with a second group of needles in said cylinder,

(g) each of said sinkers of said first group having a neb and stitch drawing `surfaces at one level in front and back of said neb,

(h) and each of said sinkers of said second group having a neb, a stitch drawing surface in front of said neb at the same level as said stitch drawing surfaces at said one level on said -sinkers of said first group, and a stitch drawing surface in Iback of said lneb at a, different level than said stitch drawing surface in front of said neb,

(i) cam means for moving said sinkers of said first and second groups to a first position at one of said stations so that the first and second groups of needles draw stitches over the surfaces in fr-ont of the nebs of said sinkers,

(j) and cam means for moving the sinkers of said first and second groups to a second position at the other of said stations so that the needles of said first group draw stitches over the stitch drawing surfaces in back of the nebs on said sinkers of first group and the needles rof the second group draw stitches over the surfaces at said different level in back of the nebs on said sinkers of said second group.

3. In a machine according to claim 2 in which said surfaces at said different level on the sinkers of said second group is higher than the surfaces at said one level on the sinkers of said first and second groups.

4. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations,

(a) a rotatable cylinder,

(b) needles in said cylinder,

(c) means for feeding yarn to said needles at each of said stations,

(d) means for operating said needles through stitch drawing movements at each of said stations to form courses of a knitted fabric,

(e) a first group of sinkers cooperating with the needles in a first portion of said cylinder,

(f) a -second group of sinkers cooperating with the needles in a second portion of said cylinder,

(g) each of said sinkers of said first group having a neb and stitch drawing surfaces at one level in front and back of said neb,

(h) and each of said sinkers of said sec-ond group having a neb, a stitch drawing surface in front of said neb at the same level as said stitch drawing surfaces at said one level on `the sinkers ofsaid'first group, and a stitch drawing surface in back of said neb at a different level than said stitch drawing surface in front of said neb,

(i) cam means for movingy saidsinkers of said first and second groups to a first position at one of said stations so that the needles in said first and second portions of said cylinder draw stitches of one length -over said surfaces in front of said nebs of said sinkers in the courses formed at said lone station,

(j) and cam means for moving saidvsinkers of said first and second groups to a second position at the other of said stations so that the needles in said first portion of said cylinder draw stitches of said one length over the surfaces in back of the nebs of said sinkers of said first group and the needles in said second portion of said cylinder draw stitches of a different length over the surfaces at said different level on the sinkers of said secondgroup in the courses formed at said other station.

5. In a machine according to claim 44 in which said surfaces at said one level on said sinkers of -said first and second groups are low surfaces land said surfaces at said asozsvv different level on said sinkers of said second group are high surfaces.

6. In a machine according to claim 4 in which there is also means at said other station for controlling the needles in said second portion of said cylinder to form a 1 x 1 pattern yof tuck stitches in the courses formed at said one and other station.

7. A method of knitting on a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations, a rotatable cylinder, needles in said cylinder, yarn feeding means at each of said stations, a first group of sinkers associated with a first group of needles in said cylinder, and a second group of sinkers associated with a second group of needles in said cylinder, including the steps of (a) simultaneously feeding yarn to said needles to form complete courses of stitches at each of said stations during each rotation of said cylinder,

(b) positioning said first groups of sinkers in a first position and operating said first group of sinkers and said first group of needles at one of said stations and drawing stitches of one length in a first portion of the courses formed thereat,

(c) positioning said second group of sinkers in said first position and operating said second group of sinkers and said second group of needles at said one station and drawing stitches of said one length in a second portion of the courses formed at said one station, the first and second course portions forming said complete courses at said one stat-ion,

(d) positioning said first group of sinkers in a second position and operating said first group of sinkers and said first group of needles at the other of said stations and drawing stitches of said one length in a first portion of the courses formed at said other station, and

(e) positioning said second group of sinkers in said second position and operating said second group of sinkers and said second group of needles and drawing stitches of a different length in a second portion of the courses formed at'said other station, the first and second course portions forming said complete courses at said other station.

S. A method according to claim 7 in which said stitches of said one length are short stitches and said stitches of said different length are long stitches.

9. A method according to claim 7 including the additional step of forming a pattern of design stitches in said second portions of said courses formed at each of said stations.

10. A method of knitting on a circular knitting machine having a plurality of knitting stations, a rotatable cylinder, needles in said cylinder, yarn feeding means at each of said stations, a first group of sinkers associated with a first group of needles in said cylinder having nebs and stitch drawing surfaces at the same level in front and back of said nebs, a second group of sinkers associated with a second group of needles having nebs, stitch drawing surfaces in front of said nebs at the same level as said stitch drawing surfaces on said sinkers of said first group, and stitch drawing surfaces in back of said nebs at a different level than said stitch drawing surfaces in front of said nebs, including the steps of (a) simultaneously feeding yarn to said needles at each y of said stations during each rotation of said cylinder, ('b) positioning said sinkers of said first and second 10 groups in a first position and operating said needles at one of said stations and drawing the yarn fed thereat over the stitch drawing surfaces in front of the nebs on said sinkers to form a course of stitches of one length, and

(c) positioning said sinkers of said first and second groups in a second position and operating said needles at the other of said stations and drawing the yarn fed thereat over the stitch drawing surfaces in back of the nebs on said sinkers to form a course of stitches, the stitches formed over the sinkers of said first group having the same length as the stitches of said one length in the course formed at said one station, and the stitches formed over the sinkers of said second group having a different length than the stitches formed over the sinkers of said first group.

11. A method according to claim 10 in which said stitches formed over the sinkers of said first and second groups at said one station and the stitches formed over the sinkers of said first group at said other station are short stitches, and said stitches formed over the sinkers of said second group at said other station are long stitches.

12. A 4method of -knitting pairs of courses on a circular knitting machine having a rotatable cylinder, needles in said cylinder, means for operating said needles through stitch drawing movements, means for feeding yarn to said needles, a first group of sinkers associated with a first group of needles in said cylinder, and a second group of sinkers associated with a second group of needles in said cylinder, including the steps of (a) feeding yarn to the needles of said rst and second groups,

(b)operating said needles of said first and second groups and positioning said sinkers of said first and second groups in a first position and drawing stitches of one length in one of the courses of said pair of courses,

(c) feeding yarn to the needles of said first and second groups,

(d) operating the needles of said first group and positioning the sinkers of said first group in a second position and drawing stitches of said one length in a portion of the other course of said pair of courses, and

(e) operating the needles of said second group and positioning the sinkers of said second group in said second position and drawing stitches of a different length in another portion of said other course.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,131,556 5/1964 Nebel 66-169 3,157,037 11/1964 Nebel et al. 66-178 3,172,274 3/1965 Anthony et al. 66-108 3,197,978 8/1965 Sheeler 66-169 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,310,830 10/ 19612. France.

902,171 7/1962 Great Britain.

925,463 5/ 1963 Great Britain.

952,050 3/1964 Great Britain.

WM` CARTER REYNOLDS, Examiner.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner. 

12. A METHOD OF KNITTING PAIRS OF COURSES ON A CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A ROTATABLE CYLINDER, NEEDLES IN SAID CYLINDER, MEANS FOR OPERATING SAID NEEDLES THROUGH STITCH DRAWING MOVEMENTS, MEANS FOR FEEDING YARN TO SAID NEEDLES, A FIRST GROUP OF SINKERS ASSOCIATED WITH A FIRST GROUP OF NEEDLES IN SAID CYLINDER, AND A SECOND GROUP OF SINKERS ASSOCIATED WITH A SECOND GROUP OF NEEDLES IN SAID CYLINDER, INCLUDING THE STEPS OF (A) FEEDING YARN TO THE NEEDLES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS, (B) OPERATING SAID NEEDLES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS AND POSITIONING SAID SINKERS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS IN A FIRST POSITION AND DRAWING STITCHES OF ONE LENGTH IN ONE OF THE COURSES OF SAID PAIR OF COURSES, (C) FEEDING YARN TO THE NEEDLES OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND GROUPS, (D) OPERATING THE NEEDLES OF SAID FIRST GROUP AND POSITIONING THE SINKERS OF SAID FIRST GROUP IN A SECOND POSITION AND DRAWING STITCHES OF SAID ONE LENGTH IN A PORTION OF THE OTHER COURSE OF SAID PAIR OF COURSES, AND (E) OPERATING THE NEEDLES OF SAID SECOND GROUP AND POSITIONING THE SINKERS OF SAID SECOND GROUP IN SAID SECOND POSITION AND DRAWING STITCHES OF A DIFFERENT LENGTH IN ANOTHER PORTION OF SAID OTHER COURSE. 